Entertainment/Reviews

Pandamonium In Abortion Debate

The pro-life/pro-choice debate has just taken a step into the animal kingdom, and new technology is giving until-now silent beasts of boredom a voice and perhaps a choice. Panda Demands Abortion ONN “National Zoo’s giant panda Yun Mei has set off a storm of protest. The Onion News Network’s Brian Scott tells you why.” HT …

June 16, 2007
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Mask of China: Redux

Some of you may know my friend Derrick’s blog, Mask of China. Starting out in Dalian back in 2003, it has since followed its master to Hong Kong where it has continued to be a fixture of the Sinosphere. It was with moist eyes that I heard Derrick (Dezza) was hanging up his blogging cap, …

June 14, 2007
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Vicarious Suzhou Pubcrawl

Newcomer Suzhou Native (yeah… it’s complicated) Jim Zhou has a pretty good rundown of some of Suzhou’s finer refreshment stands in his most recent post. In a form I’ve not followed in years now, Jim throws himself into the bar scene and we get to watch the results. I was talking to Maggie last night …

June 10, 2007
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Yellow Bedwetter: Understanding Eddie

There are few bands I respect and enjoy more than Pearl Jam. Tight musicianship wrapped in potent lyrics and Eddie Vedder’s powerful and pretty voice… (yeah, I said pretty, he’s a man, I’m secure with it). Despite all the praises I’m happy to lavish on the band and on Eddie, there’s no denying the man …

May 26, 2007
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Haier Ground

First, sorry. Sorry, I’ve been so craptastic at posting regular – but this sorta fits, as life in China, in EVERY way, is not regular (yes, that was potty humour, laugh damnit). Anyway… the reason is I’ve been working on a couple new “projects” – don’t you love that term, so vague, yet so official …

May 25, 2007
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Watch NHL Hockey Playoffs Online

Every country has its “sport”, and being abroad for several years now has made me mingle with footie fans, gridiron groupies, basketball buffs, diamond devotees, and even a few ‘aussie rules’ aficionados (whatever the hell sport that is)… but for us Canadians, this time of year means one thing, and one thing only… The Cup. …

May 20, 2007
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Joost: TV 2.0

One of the main gripes us expats in China have is the lack of decent TV. With most homes sporting nothing but standard cable, CCTV9 is about the only offering unless you’re fluent in Mandarin, and then, you’re still limited to the plethora of Chinese soaps that seem to do little but rehash classic Chinese …

May 9, 2007
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Girls of the English-language China Blogsphere

I got to chatting with Chris while I was up in Dalian, and we were talking about how the English-language China Blogsphere is a little under-represented by those double-X darlings some (misleadingly) call the ‘fairer’ sex… I quickly mentioned Meg, who’s now returned to the wilds of Americana to live happily ever after with WoW …

May 5, 2007
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No Sham, All Rock: Shamrock Open Mic

Right, so as I mention last post, Suzhou finally has a venue for any wannabe musicians to come out and get heard. I “opened” the Shamrock Open Mic Night last night and it was a modest success. With no advertising, I fully expected to be the only one going up to play – something I …

April 24, 2007
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Open Mic Night In Suzhou

The masochist in me has long been craving the sick-nervous feeling I get when I play in front of an audience. Despite playing for years, I’ve only minimal talent. This, however, doesn’t curb my interest in belting out a few tunes any chance I get. Just before coming to China I was living in the …

April 22, 2007
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Survivor: China – The Best Worst Idea Ever

I like Survivor. There, I’ve said it. Please scroll down and immediately flog me in the comments. I don’t care. I’ve had this romantic notion of being trapped on a deserted island since I was a kid and saw Brook Shields’ (ahem) assets in The Blue Lagoon. When the reality TV show debuted back when …

April 19, 2007
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Everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt

Today Kurt Vonnegut joined Hunter S. Thompson in the list of seminal counterculture authors of the 60s and 70s that have died since I moved to China. Like Thompson, I read Vonnegut in those trailing years of adolescent angst; a time full of chemical-induced searching to put texture to the confusing “adulthood” I inexplicably found …

April 12, 2007
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